After experiencing the success of the inaugural Diversity, Equity and Inclusion conference last October to recharge and bring people together after the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers with the nonprofit community engagement organization for young professionals Engage! Cleveland knew they had to host another event.

They wanted to dig deeper into diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) to ignite groundbreaking conversations, share innovative best practices, and propel actionable strategies to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion across all sectors in the workplace.

So, last month Engage! Cleveland hosted a second DEI Conference at the Aviator in September—launching an even broader effort to attract, engage, and retain a diverse array of thought leaders, experts, young professionals, and advocates for a dialogue on the critical importance of diversity and inclusion in the business world.

Second annual Diversity, Equity and Inclusion ConferenceThe second DEI conference validated the interest in propelling DEI principles further, with more than 150 participants of all ages in attendance.

“The event was remarkable, it was a packed house, and 71 attendees were first-time attendees,” says Engage! Cleveland president Ashley Basile Oeken. “Our team was thrilled to deliver such an impactful conference to a room full of emerging professionals from 43 different Greater Cleveland companies. Our hope is that the attendees take their learnings back to their company to implement change in this space.”

The conference centered around companies building an inclusive work culture in a safe environment, how to address bias, and developing a strategic DEI plan. The mission was to provide actionable takeaways to promote DEI and encourage networking opportunities.

Speakers included Erica Merritt, founder and president of the organization and leadership development company Equius Group; Margarita Diaz, director of health equity, inclusion and diversity for MetroHealth System; Gulnar Feerasta, managing director of the LGBT Center of Greater Cleveland; and Matthew Grims, head of diversity, equity & inclusion for the Cleveland Guardians, among others.

“Our second annual Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Conference was top-notch, receiving high marks from our attendees on content and speaker selection,” says Basile Oeken. “Attendees walked away with tangible next steps to implement in their personal and professional lives.”

Engage! Cleveland events manager Abby Petty says the day was a great bonding experience for everyone, as well as a chance to learn more about DEI issues.

“The sense of community at this conference was remarkable,” she says. “From planning to final teardown, everyone involved—speakers and attendees alike—showed dedication and passion for creating more inclusive workplaces.

Petty says she’s already planning for the next conference, saying, “This commitment fostered an inspiring space for sharing and learning, and I can’t wait to see what we’ll learn next year.”